Mystery Bird ID Quiz

By Corey • March 14, 2009 • 10 comments

Sabrina, a coworker of mine who lives in Tampa, Florida, sent me the pic below of a mystery bird that has been showing up of late and roosting all night on a beam on the roof of her porch. Mike, Charlie, and I had wildly divergent guesses, and when Sabrina eventually got a shot that included its head we were all surprised. Can you identify the Florida mystery bird?

Put your guesses in the comments and eventually we’ll reveal the answer and post the shot that includes the bird’s head.

Tags: Florida, ID Quiz

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About the Author

Corey

Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy, their son, Desmond Shearwater, and their two indoor cats, Hunter and B.B.

10 Responses to “Mystery Bird ID Quiz”

John Mar 14th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
To me it kind of looks like a rodent…
Diana L Guerrero Mar 14th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hard to tell with no scale and no head. My guess…Carolina Wren
tai haku Mar 14th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I’m going to agree with Diana based solely on a post by Julie Z a few weeks ago about those white spots.
Amy Mar 14th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I’m with Diana. Wouldn’t have thought of it if I hadn’t read this one: http://www.juliezickefoose.com/blog/labels/wren%20camouflage.html
Corey Mar 14th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Darn that Zickefoose and her knowledge!
Not sure how I missed her original post but I am sure that she is pleased to know that the knowledge she shares is retained and used…
Julie Zickefoose Mar 15th, 2009 at 1:08 am
I feel like one of those pesky kids on Scooby-Doo. Velma, maybe.
Diana L Guerrero Mar 16th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Guess my guess was good. Didn’t see the Zickefoose post just sorted through some of the species that might have been in the area. Guess I need to read more of her blog posts!
Nice to have validation since I was going to go crazy wondering…birds have not been my forte been a mammal gal mostly (even though I have worked with birds) and thought I’d take up a new hobby.
Kevin Mar 17th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Late to the party, but looks like the backside of a Carolina Wren – and they do love to nest on porches, especially fond of hanging plants.
Joy Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I see this post is from last year…did I miss the other photo? What is it?
Corey Oct 26th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
It’s a Carolina Wren, as the comments above show. And, for some reason, I never used the second photo, and now I can’t find it.